Visual acuity testing system

ABSTRACT

According to some embodiments, a system and method of determining visual acuity is disclosed. The system and method of determining visual acuity comprises initiating a visual acuity test on a first computing device, linking a program on a second computing device with the visual acuity test on the first computing device, determining a distance from the first computing device using the second computing device, and transmitting answers to the visual acuity test using the second computing device wherein the questions associated with the visual acuity test are displayed on the first computing device.

BACKGROUND

Pathogens, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may be spreadthrough aerosols and respiratory droplets that are expelled from aperson's mouth or nose when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes.Because of the rapid spread of COVID-19, people are avoiding crowdedareas or areas where people congregate. People who want or need alicense to operate a motor vehicle, must be licensed by their state'sdepartment of motor vehicles (DMV) which are notorious for long linesand having to wait for long periods of time in a crowded room.

As part of a driving test, or renewal of a driver's license, drivers arerequired to take a vision test to ensure their vision is adequate fordriving. For example, in the state of New York, a driver must pass avision test when they apply for a driver license or they renew theirlicense. New York's requires that the driver have a visual acuity of atleast 20/40 based on the Snellen Visual Acuity Scale with or withoutcorrective lenses. Because these visual acuity tests are given onsite atthe DMV or at a local eye doctor, drivers are more susceptible tocontracting COVID-19 and therefore, a system to remotely provide avisual acuity test to avoided contracting COVID-19 is desirable.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments described herein relate to a system and method ofdetermining visual acuity. The method comprises initiating a visualacuity test on a first computing device, linking a program or pairing aprogram embedded in a unique URL on a second computing device with thevisual acuity test on the first computing device, determining a distancefrom the first computing device using the second computing device, andtransmitting answers to the visual acuity test using the secondcomputing device wherein the questions associated with the visual acuitytest are displayed on the first computing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a visual acuity system in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a remote device in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuitshave not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments.

The present embodiments relate to a remote visual acuity testing systemthat may be conducted away from the DMV or eye doctor's office. Inparticular, the present embodiments relate to a system that uses (i) astationary viewing platform such as, for example, a desktop monitor or alaptop and (ii) a portable platform for answering questions displayed onthe stationary viewing platform when a user, or driver, is at apredetermined distance from the viewing platform.

Now referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a visual acuity testing system100 is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first computing device110 and a second computing device 120 may be communicatively coupled toa communication network 130. The communication network 130 may compriseany wired or wireless communication network that may be used forcommunication purposes between electronic devices. For example, thenetwork 130 may comprise, but is not limited to, a wired and/or wirelessmesh network, LAN, MAN, WAN, or the Internet.

For purposes of illustration, the first computing device 110 maycomprise a desktop computer, a laptop or a tablet. The first computingdevice 110 may function as a viewing platform for administering a visualacuity test. The second computing device 120 may comprise a mobiledevice such as a tablet or a smart phone. In some embodiments, thesecond computing device 120 may function as a portable platform foranswering questions displayed on a stationary viewing platform when auser, or driver, is at a predetermined distance from the first computingdevice 110. In some embodiments, the second computing device 120 may notallow for a user to answer questions if the user is not at or greaterthan a predetermined distance away from the first computing device 110.In some embodiments, the first computing device 110 may not start orcontinue a visual acuity test if the user is not at or greater than apredetermined distance away from the first computing device 110.

To determine distance, the second computing device 120 may include ameasuring device 140 such as, but not limited to, a GPS radio, a WIFIradio, a camera and/or an augmented reality laser pointer. Theaforementioned measuring devices 140 may be used for determining adistance away from the first computing device 110. In some embodiments,the first computing device 110 and the second computing device 120 maycommunicate with a back-end or remote server 150 via the communicationnetwork 130 as will be explained with respect to FIG. 2.

Now referring to FIG. 2, a method 200 that might be performed by thevisual acuity testing system described with respect to FIG. 1 isillustrated according to some embodiments. The method described hereindoes not imply a fixed order to the steps, and embodiments of thepresent invention may be practiced in any order that is practicable.Note that any of the methods described herein may be performed byhardware, software, or any combination of these approaches. For example,a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may store thereoninstructions that when executed by a machine result in performanceaccording to any of the embodiments described herein.

Method 200 may relate to administering a visual acuity test while a useror driver is remotely located from the DMV or eye doctors' office suchas, but not limited to, at home. One of the main issues of testingvisual acuity at home is ensuring that the patient is taking the test ata required distance away from a viewing platform since cheating would beeasy if the user stands too close to the viewing platform.

Now referring to 210, a visual acuity test may be initiated on a firstcomputing device. As stated previously, the first computing device maycomprise, but is not limited to, a desktop, laptop or tablet computer.The first computing device may be used as a stationary viewing platformand a user may view images on the first computing device from apredetermined distance away from the first computing device.

For purposes of illustrating features of the present embodiments, anexample will now be introduced and referenced throughout the disclosure.Those skilled in the art will recognize that this example isillustrative and is not limiting and is provided purely for explanatorypurposes. In some embodiments, a driver needs a visual acuity test torenew a driver's license. Instead of having the test performed at theirlocal DMV or eye doctor's office, the driver logs into an online visualacuity system and starts the visual acuity test. The test may be hostedby a remote server that is in communication with the first computingdevice. The test may start by first linking a program on a secondcomputing device or pairing a program embedded in a unique URL with thevisual acuity test on the first computing device at 220.

Linking the second computing device, to work in conjunction with thefirst computing device, may comprise entering a phone number of thesecond computing device (e.g., a mobile device) so that a text messagemay be sent to the second computing device from the remote sever with alink such as a unique URL for an individual user being tested. In thiscase, the user can login to the visual acuity system using the linkprovided in the text message. In some embodiments, login identificationmay be displayed on the first computing device so that a user may enterthe login information into a web browser on the second computing deviceto synchronize the second computing device with the first computingdevice. In some embodiments, the first computing device and the secondcomputing devices will each use a browser to either conduct the test andto answer questions. In this embodiment, the second computing device mayuse a different authentication URL than the first computing device. Thisauthentication URL may link the second computing device to the firstcomputing device for purposes of conducting the visual acuity test.

Since the first computing device may comprise a variety of screen sizes(e.g., ranging from 10″ diagonal to 32″ diagonal), a display on a screenassociated with the first computing device may be calibrated prior tostarting the visual acuity test. Calibration may comprise adjusting ashape on the screen associated with the first computing device to matcha size of a corresponding reference shape. For example, a user may use aphysical object such as a 4″×6″ rectangle or another shaped object. Insome embodiments, a user may enter his cell phone make and model into asetup screen and a known size of that phone may be used to create animage on the screen. For example, an iPhone 12 screen size is 5.4inches. If a user enters an iPhone 12, a rectangle with a 5.4-inchdiagonal size may be displayed on the screen. A slider, or other type ofadjustment control, may be used to change the size of the rectangle onthe screen so that it matches the users 5.4-inch iPhone 12 screen. Oncethe size of the screen matches the selected phone or another physicalobject, the user may select a calibration button to indicate that thedisplay on the first computing device has been calibrated.

In some embodiments, this calibration may be automated based on thecamera in the phone that can measure a size of the display object andreport back to the remote server which then sends instructions to thefirst computing device to make adjustments on the first computingdevice. For example, if a displayed object on a screen of the firstcomputing device measures 4 inches diagonally based on the iPhone 12'smeasurement, the iPhone 12 may report to the remote server that the sizehas to be increased by 1.4 inches. The remote server may then send amessage to the first computing device to automatically adjust the screensize.

Next, at 230, a distance that the user is located from the firstcomputing device may be determined using the second computing device. Insome embodiments, the second computing device comprises a camera anddetermining a distance that the user is located from the first computingdevice may be based on the second computing device being pointed to acomputer monitor frame associated with the first computing device. As auser walks away from the computer monitor frame, the second computingmay indicate by either visual indicator or an auditory sound that theuser has reached a predetermined distance from the first computingdevice. This indication may be based on entering a size of the computermonitor frame of the first computing device (e.g., 21″) or having themobile device automatically determine a size of the computer monitorframe. As a user walks away from the computer monitor frame, the secondcomputing device may determine, based on viewing the computer monitorframe, a distance that a user should be from the computer monitor frame.Thus the camera and an onboard processor may calculate a determineddistance away from the computer monitor frame based on a known size ofthe computer monitor frame and this information may be transmitted tothe first computing device which may use this information to determinewhen the user is at a proper distance to take the test.

In some embodiments, the second computing device comprises an augmentedreality laser pointer that is pointed to the computer monitor frame ofthe first computing device. In some embodiments, a camera in the secondcomputing device may be used for determining a distance using augmentedreality. As a user walks away from the computer monitor frame, thesecond augmented reality laser pointer, or camera, may indicate byeither visual indicator or an auditory sound that the user has reached apredetermined distance from the first computing device. This indicationmay be based on the augmented reality laser pointer, or camera,determining a time it takes the laser to reach a display screenassociated with the first computing device. As a user walks away fromthe display screen, the second computing device may determine, based onthe augmented reality laser pointer, or camera, a distance that a usershould be from the computer monitor frame and the first computing devicemay use this information to determine when the user is at a properdistance to take the test. In some embodiments, a circular augmentedreality fence may be utilized. A radius of the fence may be at apredetermined distance from the first computing device. For example, theradius may be 10 feet and thus the visual acuity test may function aslong as the user is within a 10 foot from the first computing device (ora display screen associated with the first computing device). Theaugmented reality measuring may be embedded in the unique URL for thesecond device. This URL may be unique to each person taking the visualacuity test. In some embodiments, the display screen may display Snellenletter(s) and a size of the letters may be based on the user's state'srequirements. In this case, when the user registers to take the visualacuity test, the required parameters regarding the size of the lettersmay be determined to provide a correct visual acuity test. As a useraims the augmented reality laser pointer, or camera, at the displayscreen associated with the first computing device, the second computingdevice may display a first color (e.g., red) until the user reaches acorrect distance (e.g., 10 ft) and, in this case, the screen associatedwith the second computing device may change to a second color (e.g.,green). This change in color may indicate to a user that they are at aproper distance and can take the visual acuity test. Also, in someembodiments, when the change in color occurs, a message may be sent tothe first computing that indicates that a user is at the defineddistance.

In some embodiments, the second computing device marks a location of thefirst computing device when the second computing device is within closeproximity to the first computing device. This may be performed bycapturing one or more coordinates associated with the first computingdevice. The coordinates may be, for example, GPS coordinates so the GPSlocation of the first computing device is known. This marking may alsocapturing a signal strength of a WIFI router to determine a distancefrom the router. The user may then move away from the first computingdevice and be notified by either visual indicator or an auditory soundthat the user has reached a predetermined distance from the firstcomputing device based on new coordinates determined by the secondcomputing device and/or a signal strength of the WIFI router.

For example, distance may be based on a combination of using round-triptime (RTT) such as Wi-Fi RTT, GPS dual-frequency and carrier phasemeasurements. Wi-Fi RTT ranging and indoor position estimation may bebased on making measurements of the time of flight of RF signals, andmay be used to accurately estimate an indoor position of the user.

Once a user is at a predetermined distance from the first computingdevice, at 240, answers to the visual acuity test may be transmittedusing the second computing device wherein the questions associated withthe visual acuity test are displayed on the first computing device.Answers submitted on the second computing device may be transmitted tothe remote server where the test is scored. In some embodiments, theanswers may be scored by the first computing device. The user may benotified of its test score or the test score may be stored andtransmitted to a third party (e.g., the DMV or eye doctor's office).

Note the embodiments described herein may be implemented using anynumber of different hardware configurations. For example, FIG. 3illustrates a mobile device 300 that may be, for example, associatedwith the visual acuity system 100 of FIG. 1. The mobile device 300 mayprovide a technical and commercial advantage by being able to determinea distance a user is away from a display screen so that a safe visualacuity test may be performed at home.

The mobile device 300 may comprise a processor 310 (“processor”), suchas one or more commercially available Central Processing Units (CPUs) inthe form of one-chip microprocessors, coupled to a communication device320 configured to communicate via a communication network (not shown inFIG. 3). The communication device 320 may be used to communicate, forexample, with one or more machines on a network. The mobile device 300further includes an input device 340 (e.g., a mouse and/or keyboard toenter answers to a visual acuity test) and an output device 330 (e.g.,to output and display the data and/or alerts). The mobile device 300 mayfurther comprise a measuring device 355. The measuring device 355 maycomprise a GPS radio, a camera, a radio transceiver and/or an augmentedreality laser pointer.

The processor 310 also communicates with a memory 325 and storage device350 that stores data 313. The storage device 350 may comprise anyappropriate information storage device, including combinations ofmagnetic storage devices (e.g., a hard disk drive), optical storagedevices, mobile telephones, and/or semiconductor memory devices. Thestorage device 350 may store a program 312 and/or processing logic 313for controlling the processor 310. The processor 310 performsinstructions of the programs 312, 313, and thereby operates inaccordance with any of the embodiments described herein. For example,the processor 310 may receive distance data may institute an alert to auser via the instructions of the programs 312 and processing logic 313.

The programs 312, 313 may be stored in a compiled, compressed,uncompiled and/or encrypted format or a combination. The programs 312,313 may furthermore include other program elements, such as an operatingsystem, a database management system, and/or device drivers used by theprocessor 310 to interface with peripheral devices.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the presentembodiments may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, the embodiments described herein may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

The process flow and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It should be noted that any of the methods described herein can includean additional step of providing a system comprising distinct softwaremodules embodied on a computer readable storage medium; the modules caninclude, for example, any or all of the elements depicted in the blockdiagrams and/or described herein. The method steps can then be carriedout using the distinct software modules and/or sub-modules of thesystem, as described above, executing on one or more hardwareprocessors. Further, a computer program product can include acomputer-readable storage medium with code adapted to be implemented tocarry out one or more method steps described herein, including theprovision of the system with the distinct software modules.

This written description uses examples to disclose multiple embodiments,including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any personskilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and usingany devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Aspectsfrom the various embodiments described, as well as other knownequivalents for each such aspects, can be mixed and matched by one ofordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments andtechniques in accordance with principles of this application.

Those in the art will appreciate that various adaptations andmodifications of the above-described embodiments can be configuredwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the claims. Therefore, itis to be understood that the claims may be practiced other than asspecifically described herein.

What is claimed:
 1. A visual acuity testing system, the systemcomprising: a first computing device to display a visual acuity test,the first computing device calibrated for the visual acuity test byadjusting a shape on a screen associated with the first computing deviceto match a size of a corresponding reference shape; and a secondcomputing device to determine a distance from the first computing deviceand to answer questions associated with the visual acuity test, whereinthe second computing device marks a location of the first computingdevice when the second computing device is within close proximity to thefirst computing device by capturing one or more coordinates associatedwith the first computing device and wherein the second computingindicates by either visual indicator or an auditory sound that a userhas reached a predetermined distance from the first computing devicebased on coordinates determined by the second computing device.
 2. Thevisual acuity testing system of claim 1, wherein the second computingdevice comprises a camera.
 3. The visual acuity testing system of claim1, wherein the second computing device comprises an augmented realitylaser pointer.
 4. A method of determining visual acuity, the methodcomprising: initiating a visual acuity test on a first computing device;calibrating the visual acuity test on the first computing device byadjusting a shape on a screen associated with the first computing deviceto match a size of a corresponding reference shape; linking a program ona second computing device with the visual acuity test on the firstcomputing device; and determining a distance from the first computingdevice using the second computing device by (i) marking a location ofthe first computing device using the second computing device when thesecond computing is within close proximity to the first computing deviceby capturing one or more coordinates of the first computing device, and(ii) indicating by either visual indicator or an auditory sound that auser has reached a predetermined distance from the first computingdevice based on coordinates determined by the second computing device;transmitting answers to the visual acuity test using the secondcomputing device wherein the questions associated with the visual acuitytest are displayed on the first computing device.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein the second computing device comprises a camera.
 6. The methodof claim 4, wherein the second computing device comprises an augmentedreality laser.
 7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprisingprocessor steps that when executed by a processor perform a method ofdetermining visual acuity, the method comprising: initiating a visualacuity test on a first computing device; calibrating the visual acuitytest by adjusting a shape on a screen associated with the firstcomputing device to match a size of a corresponding reference shape;linking a program on a second computing device with the visual acuitytest on the first computing device; and determining a distance from thefirst computing device using the second computing device by (i) markinga location of the first computing device using the second computingdevice when the second computing is within close proximity to the firstcomputing device by capturing one or more coordinates of the firstcomputing device, and (ii) indicating by either visual indicator or anauditory sound that a user has reached a predetermined distance from thefirst computing device based on coordinates determined by the secondcomputing device; transmitting answers to the visual acuity test usingthe second computing device wherein the questions associated with thevisual acuity test are displayed on the first computing device.
 8. Themedium of claim 7, wherein the second computing device comprises acamera.
 9. The medium of claim 7, wherein the second computing devicecomprises an augmented reality laser pointer.